The Chuck E. Cheese restaurant in Middletown is not a daycare.
Two brothers and a family friend were dropped off at the local children’s restaurant by the Jana Melcher of Fairless Hills and “some adults” on Thursday, June 19, according to official court documents. The other adults are believed to be foreign nationals and have not been charged as of press time.
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Although the guardians were informed multiple times that leaving unaccompanied children was against company policy in order to protect children, the guardians ignored the warnings of a Chuck E. Cheese employee and left the facility without the three children, according to court papers.
After the guardians left, in an attempt to contact the guardians of the children, the manager of the restaurant learned from the kids that the parents left to shop at the Oxford Valley Mall, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Approximately two hours after the initial drop off of the children, an adult male arrived at the restaurant, according to official documents. At the inquiry of a police officer, the man said he was searching for the three boys in question.
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The man was asked to contact the mothers of the children and ask them to return to the restaurant.
Between the arrival of Jana Melcher and the other mother of the children, a representative from Bucks County Children and Youth arrived on the scene, according to court documents.
The county youth worker approved the reuniting of the children and guardians, but, according to court documents, planned to continue their own investigation.
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At the approval of an assistant district attorney, Melcher has been charged with two charges of endangering the welfare of children.
Melcher’s preliminary hearing is set for August 7 before District Judge John Kelly in Middletown.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
